JOB TITLE: VICTIM ASSISTANCE DIRECTOR

JOB CODE: 44652

SERIES NATURE OF WORK: The Victim Assistance job series describes advocacy work in providing a variety of support services to crime victims.

DEFINITION: This is professional, administrative, and managerial work planning and directing victim assistance programs in the Department of Corrections (DOC) and/or PA Board of Probation and Parole (PBPP).

An employee in this job is responsible for providing direction to subordinate staff and other state and local agencies and organizations relevant to victims’ rights and services. Work involves ensuring compliance with state and federal legislation and regulations of the Office of the Victim Advocate (OVA); developing programs, policies, procedures, and standards for the delivery of services to victims; and evaluating methods and practices of victim service programs to ensure compliance with laws and regulations, to address the emotional and physical security of crime victims, and to improve service delivery. Work also involves providing statewide leadership to, and collaborating with, professional personnel within state agencies and criminal justice and victim service organizations regarding the effective implementation and coordination of post-sentencing victims’ rights and services. Supervision is exercised over Victim Assistance Supervisors and/or Victim Assistance Coordinators engaged in the implementation and delivery of victim advocacy and notification work for victims of offenders who are under the jurisdiction of the DOC or PBPP. Work is performed with a high degree of initiative and independence and is reviewed by an administrative supervisor for program effectiveness and goal attainment.

EXAMPLES OF WORK: (NOTE: The examples of work are representative of the work, but every position classified to this job may not perform all examples of work listed. Conversely, this is not an all-inclusive list of work examples.):

• Plans, develops, directs, supervises, and coordinates a department-wide program of post-sentencing victim notification and services in the DOC and/or PBPP.

• Provides consultative services to representatives of community, law enforcement, and prosecution-based victim service organizations on the post-sentencing rights of crime victims to coordinate and enhance service delivery.

• Serves as a member of the leadership team in the development of agency policy and provides advice to the Commonwealth’s Victim Advocate and the Secretary of Corrections and/or the Chairman of the Board of Probation and Parole.

• Advocates for individual and collective interests of crime victims before the DOC or PBPP.

• Ensures crime victims receive notification and related services as mandated by law, policy, or procedure.

• Represents the OVA on various internal and external committees charged with developing new or revising existing programs, criminal justice planning, and victim services.

• Plans, develops, directs, coordinates, and evaluates OVA programs such as Victim Offender Dialogue, Address Confidentiality, and Impact of Crime Class.

• Evaluates automation needs to assist in the development and management of new and effective automated systems of notification, recordkeeping, and statistical analysis.

• Identifies and develops concepts for grant applications.

• Prepares grant applications and ensures that the conditions of federal, state, or other grant guidelines are adhered to.

• Ensures that crime victims are informed of pending release decisions for inmates housed within the DOC or under the jurisdiction of the PBPP.

• Assists victims in preparing statements or petitions to the DOC or the PBPP.

• Advocates for crime victims by providing referrals to government, non-profit, and private organizations providing counseling, social service, and support services.

• Supervises the development and implementation of curriculum to address victim-awareness training needs for staff in the DOC or PBPP.

• Coordinates the development and implementation of various initiatives set forth by the OVA.

• Provides on-call offender escape notification to victims, and evaluates and assists victims with related safety planning and referrals to appropriate community-based services.

• Attends coalition meetings and other victim service agency meetings as directed by the Victim Advocate.

• Performs the full range of supervisory duties.

• An employee in this job may participate in the performance of subordinates’ work consistent with operational or organizational requirements.

• Performs related duties as required.

ENTRY LEVEL KNOWLEDGES, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES:

• Knowledge of the criminal justice system related to court sentencing, prisons, and parole processes.

• Knowledge of state and federal legislation related to crime victims’ rights and governmental responsibilities.

• Knowledge of crime victims’ support programs, strategies, techniques, and methods.

• Knowledge of crisis intervention techniques and methods.

• Knowledge of the principles and practices of victim advocacy.

• Ability to analyze and interpret rules, regulations, policies, and procedures.

• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships.

• Ability to communicate effectively orally.

• Ability to communicate effectively in writing.

FULL PERFORMANCE KNOWLEDGES, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES (NOTE: These are expected of an employee performing the work of this job at the full performance level. These may not be evaluated by the State Civil Service Commission or used for Civil Service examination purposes and are not position-specific performance standards.):

• Knowledge of Act 2 of 1995, Act 8 of 1995 Special Session, and Act 155 of 1992 related to crime victims’ rights and governmental responsibilities.

• Knowledge of OVA roles and responsibilities by law and familiarity with agency policies and procedures.

• Knowledge of post-sentencing victim notification services program goals and objectives.

• Knowledge of statewide OVA program goals and objectives.

• Ability to read and comprehend policies, rules, and procedures of the OVA and apply them in emotionally charged situations.

• Ability to prepare and present training to staff members on victims’ rights issues.

• Ability to travel extensively throughout the Commonwealth to accompany crime victims to various events in and out of a state correctional facility and maintain coordination with agencies involved with crime victims’ services.

• Ability to develop and implement policies, rules, and procedures of the OVA.

• Ability to analyze and evaluate the effectiveness of OVA programs and implement program modifications.

• Ability to coordinate the activities of the OVA and resolve conflicts as necessary.

• Ability to plan, direct, and assign the work of subordinates to obtain maximum efficiency and achieve desired results.

MINIMUM EXPERIENCE AND TRAINING: (NOTE: Based on the Entry Level Knowledges, Skills, and Abilities):

• One year as a Victim Assistance Supervisor;

or

• Four years of professional social service, counseling, or crisis intervention experience involving crime victim services, three of which must include direct services to crime victims, and a bachelor’s degree in sociology, counseling, psychology, or a related area;

or

• An equivalent combination of experience and training which includes four years of professional social service, counseling, or crisis intervention experience involving crime victim services, three of which must include direct services to crime victims.